In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Link’s encounters with the diverse inhabitants of the Great Sea often yield valuable «Spoils»—unique items dropped by enemies or found in hidden chests. Among these, certain foes proudly display jewelry or decorations that Link can cleverly snatch using his Grappling Hook. While these enemies typically drop their Spoils upon defeat, employing the Grappling Hook first significantly increases your chances of acquiring these coveted collectibles.
One such distinctive item is the Skull Necklace, conspicuously worn by the large, boar-like Moblins. This guide will detail where to find Skull Necklaces and their Moblin bearers in The Wind Waker, and, crucially, what to do with these peculiar tokens to unlock rewarding side quests and valuable treasures.
Zelda The Wind Waker: How To Get Skull Necklaces
Skull Necklaces are a fairly common Spoils item that can be obtained from two primary sources: directly from Moblin enemies or by discovering them within various treasure chests across the world.
Drops from Moblin Enemies (Primary Source):
- Moblin Identification: Moblins are the distinctive, torch-carrying, spear-wielding pig-like enemies. You will first encounter them in the formidable Forsaken Fortress.
- Reappearance: These enemies reappear in multiple locations throughout the game, and each Moblin has a chance to drop a Skull Necklace upon defeat.
- Farming Location: A particularly good spot to farm Skull Necklaces is within Hyrule Castle after you successfully unfreeze time there (following the Tower of the Gods dungeon). The castle becomes populated with numerous Moblins, making it a reliable area for consistent drops.
- Grappling Hook Strategy (Highly Recommended!): When you encounter a Moblin, equip your Grappling Hook and aim it directly at the enemy. A successful hit will «rob» them of an item from their loot pool. In the Moblin’s case, successfully grappling them has a very high chance to yield a Skull Necklace, provided the Moblin is wearing one (which most are). This is a more consistent method than simply defeating them.
Contents of Treasure Chests (Less Common):
- Occasionally, you can find Skull Necklaces inside treasure chests scattered around the world.
- Watchtower Platforms: Keep a keen eye out for chests located on the enemy-filled watchtower platforms as you sail the Great Sea. These platforms often reward you with a chest containing somewhat random Spoils (including Skull Necklaces) after you defeat all enemies present.
What Is Skull Necklace Used For In The Wind Waker?
Skull Necklaces are one of several «giftable» collectibles in The Wind Waker, held within your Spoils Bag. They can be given to two specific NPCs on the charming Windfall Island, each unlocking a unique reward or mini-game.
Dampa’s Piggy-Finding Minigame:
- Location: Find Dampa near the Bomb Shop on Windfall Island, close to the docks. He is easily recognizable by his red skullcap.
- Initiating the Minigame: Give Dampa 3 Skull Necklaces. This will unlock a special minigame where you must find all three of Dampa’s pigs that have wandered off around Windfall Island.
- Repeatable Reward: You can play this minigame as many times as you like, as long as you have 3 Skull Necklaces available in your Spoils Bag. Each time you successfully find all three of his pigs, Dampa will reward you with a Purple Rupee, which is worth 50 Rupees. This is a good way to earn some quick cash if you have an abundance of Skull Necklaces.
Maggie’s Father (Treasure Chart):
- Location: Find the old man near the docks on Windfall Island. He is easily identified as Maggie’s father, known for his peculiar behavior and for trying to talk to Link whenever you walk near him. He usually hangs out under the tree near the mailbox.
- Prerequisite: The old man will only accept your Skull Necklaces after you have completed the second Forsaken Fortress dungeon segment, which is when Link frees his daughter, Maggie.
- The Gift: Once the prerequisite is met, give him 20 Skull Necklaces. In return for your generosity and for freeing his daughter, he will reward you with a valuable Treasure Chart. This chart will lead you to a hidden sunken treasure somewhere on the Great Sea, often containing a substantial Rupee reward or another valuable item.
By consistently collecting Skull Necklaces, primarily through the efficient use of your Grappling Hook on Moblins, you can unlock both a repeatable Rupee-earning minigame and a significant Treasure Chart, enhancing Link’s wealth and exploration opportunities across the Great Sea.
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2Developer(s): Nintendo EADPublisher(s):Nintendoage rating (PEGI): +7
